Due to a number of schedule conflicts, Grand Marais city councilors held their second meeting of the month a day earlier than usual, convening at 9 a.m. Sept. 27 in City Hall.
The brief meeting began with an appearance by Tod Sylvester, who spoke during the open forum. Sylvester cited a section of the city’s zoning ordinance regarding portable signs to allege that a bed and breakfast owned by Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux was in violation of the statute, because the establishment has two signs advertising the business – one more than is permissible. Sylvester said the business needs to come into compliance with the laws.
City Administrator Mike Roth, however, said Arrowsmith DeCoux’s signs are in compliance and pointed out that “lots of businesses have more than one sign,” adding that Sylvester was misinterpreting the ordinance.
There followed a short discussion among councilors about the open forum policy and what should – or shouldn’t – be allowed during the citizen’s allotted five minutes. Tracy Benson said the citizens have five minutes “to say whatever…and we don’t have to react.” She suggested that persons with zoning concerns should visit the office and speak with Roth before coming to the council meeting.
Arrowsmith DeCoux disagreed, saying he didn’t want to change the nature of the open forum. “It’s important to say what they want and communicate with the council,” he said, noting that council could then help by directing citizens to the appropriate person or department to address their problems. “People should have the opportunity to air their grievances, but there is some responsibility that goes with it,” said the mayor in reference to recent incidents of false accusations, insults and disrespect shown to councilors and city staff at public meetings.
There were no decisions made about revising the open forum policy, but the mayor said it is a topic that may be revisited at a future meeting.
In other business:
. Council approved two Street and Sidewalk Use Permits. The first allows the annual “Moose Mosey” event as part of Moose Madness Days at 2 p.m. Oct. 22. The request by Visit Cook County calls for the use of the sidewalk on Wisconsin Street between Bear Tree Park and the beach at the Trading Post for about 10 minutes, and requires only that the city provide a few orange cones. The second request was made by the mayor and asks for the closure of the upper (dead end) portion of Seventh Avenue West from noon until evening (no later than 10 p.m.) on Oct. 1 for a block party. The “Plucked-Up String Band” will perform, said the mayor, and everyone is invited.
. Council approved a resolution in support of an amendment to the city Public Utilities Commission’s agreement with the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA). Roth explained that the resolution expresses support for the agency’s decision to allow new members to participate on a project-based basis, rather than joining as full-fledged members. The changes affect only long-term projects (those going beyond 2030) and are necessitated by the decision of two cities (Rochester and Austin) to terminate their memberships in 2030. Grand Marais’s membership contract runs through 2050; SMMPA is currently comprised of 18 cities.
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